Soldiers return to school

Two old Bedians who fought in World War Two returned to St Bede’s College in Manchester to take part in its Armistice Day service.
Tom Webster, who served as a captain in the Royal Corps of Signals in France during the Second World War and Tony Leeming, Able Seaman on HMS Mendip, are pictured on the right at the service.

Mr Leeming spoke about his time during the war when he serving on destroyer HMS Mendip in north Africa. He described how he survived an attack on the vessel by German bombers.

Fr Tony Dearman said: “I was very impressed with the fact that so many people had given up their break to attend the service. They were spellbound listening to Tony’s speech.”

The college has always held an annual service to mark Armistice Day and pay homage to those Old Bedians who have died in past and present conflicts. It has a special memorial chapel which details those killed in the First and Second World Wars. Joe Stiles, 13, played the Last Post on the trumpet at the end.